11/07/2007

Hi. My name is Chris and I'm a general manager

No. Not really.

But judging from this story at MLB.com that comes out of the General Managers meeting, that would be how I would introduce myself. I have highlighted the relevant passage.

GMs put cards on the table at General Managers Meetings
Word that Marlins third baseman Miguel Cabrera and left-hander Dontrelle Willis were available for the right price spread quickly through the General Managers Meetings here this week.

That's not surprising, since the GMs took advantage of a new system to survey the player landscape at this year's gathering at the Grand Cypress Resort. The new wrinkle could accelerate player movement in the coming weeks as some of the leg work has been circumvented.

A brainstorm of Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest, the GMs cut right to the chase this year.

"I thought the GMs did something that was really well conceived and very helpful and that is in their meeting the 30 of them stood up individually and identified what their goals and their targets were and what kind of deals they would consider," Astros president of baseball operations Tal Smith said. "The same kind of conversation you used to be sending people around the convention floor, you'd send your scout to talk to a scout from that club to find out 'What are you guys looking for?' and 'What do you intend to do?' and so on and so forth, and that was sort of a cumbersome process.

...

Cubs GM Jim Hendry also had to change some of his pre-meeting perceptions as a result of what was revealed during the GM session.

"I know, myself, I sat there and made a few notes about some clubs coming out of our org[anization] meetings we might not have thought we had some potential trade talks and a few that you eliminated," Hendry said. "Nobody got overly specific, I don't think, but you can cut some corners on walking across hotels in Nashville, [site of this year's Winter Meetings]."

...

Indians GM Mark Shapiro was cool to the idea at first, but he now calls it a great addition. Shapiro isn't shopping players, but he has let GMs know that no one is untouchable.

"Always unusual to announce you're trading guys," Shapiro said. "One way we used to have to do it is to flush out exactly who is interested. This was a very efficient way to find out what needs are out there. It was a great thing. I was reluctant at first, but it's a great idea."

Last word here goes to an Appleton Baseball Hall of Famer.

White Sox GM Ken Williams is another who likes the new system because it creates more conversations without creating more rumors.

"I guess I've long since stopped worrying about the rumor mill and accepted the fact that by the sheer nature kind of how we conduct business and the aggressiveness that we exhibit that people are going to lump us in with certain situations regardless of who they see us talking to or not talking to, that's who we are," Williams said. "In terms of the ability to mingle freely and be kind of more isolated, it's certainly good for bonding."

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